MINIATURE BASEBALL GAME
United States Patent 3830497
A mini-baseball game, intended primarily for indoors such as in a den, family room or any household area with reasonably adequate space, comprises a backstop, an inexpensively simple pitching device, a small bat not more than one and one half feet in length. Also, a small ball, the coefficient of restitution and size less than a regular standard baseball and which does not exceed 2 inches in diameter, first, third and home bases, with string for baselines. A set of rules, and requires a minimum of two players.
US Patent References:
/1187095.html
Jerram et al. - June 1916 - 1187095
Baseball game
Gehring - July 1920 - 1346782
GAME COMPRISING BALL FLIPPING MEANS AND TARGET INCORPORATING SIGNALING MEANS
Vick - February 1969 - 3428318
/1187095.html
Jerram et al. - June 1916 - 1187095
Baseball game
Gehring - July 1920 - 1346782
GAME COMPRISING BALL FLIPPING MEANS AND TARGET INCORPORATING SIGNALING MEANS
Vick - February 1969 - 3428318
Application Number:
05/325841
Publication Date:
08/20/1974
Filing Date:
01/22/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
273/410, 124/20.100
International Classes:
A63F7/06; A63F7/00; A63B67/00
Field of Search:
273/88,89,90,101,25,26A,26D 124/2R
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard G.
Assistant Examiner:
Strappello, Harry G.
Claims:
I claim
1. A baseball game adapted to be played by at least two individuals on a miniature scale and including a court type layout, the game comprising:
1. A baseball game adapted to be played by at least two individuals on a miniature scale and including a court type layout, the game comprising:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention pertains to games and more particularly to a scaled down and simplified baseball game version for indoor and outdoor playing, but dominantly designed for indoors.
2. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Prior art includes the descriptions contained in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.; 1,846,415 to Degenhardt, 2,082,818 to Atwell, 2,944,816 to Dixon and 3,394,691 to Brink.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
There are a number of miniature versions of sports which include hockey, bowling, football, and others. It is fairly common in existing miniature versions of sports that the fingers are all that are required in manipulation to play said miniature versions. Sports are primarily intended for exercise for those physically participating.
It is then one object of the present invention to offer a scaled down version of a simulated baseball game, while retaining some of the benefits of exercise, coordination and reflexes of the body.
It is also an object of my invention to offer an inexpensive scaled down version of a baseball game for indoors, yet having the flexibility for it to be played outdoors.
Still another object of my present invention is to provide a simulated baseball game which requires a minimum of only two players.
Further objects and advantages will become clear as the embodiments are described with the aid of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the layout of the equipment in a playing room and the approximate positions of the players.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the backstop.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the pitching device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, therein illustrated the required equipment, specially designed and also the approximate layout designated by the numeral 15. The indoor mini-baseball 15 includes a backstop 16, which is made of cardboard, plywood or plastic, comprising front side 23, with opening 24, said opening designating strike zone. Side flaps 25 and 25a, hinged to said front at 26, fold outwardly. Said flaps 25 having rectilinear opening 27 disposed adjacent to said flap edge 25b, said opening accepting, but not vertically aligned with hooked projection 27a. Said projection 27a enters said opening 27, by means of holding flap 25 down firmly, lifting flap 25a until projection 27a is aligned with opening 27, inserting projection till edge 25c of flap 25a abuts flap 25; release both flaps and thickness of flap 25, through opening 27, will lodge in space 27b between projection 27a and edge 25c of flap 25a, thereby restraining flap 25, thus forming a triangular shaped, free standing structure or backstop.
The pitching device 17 made of wood, plastic or other suitable material consists of base 19, with two removable upright posts 20. Attached to said posts is a narrow rubber strip 21, having an enlarged width 22 located approximately midway.
It is mentioned in the abstract that the ball 29 recommended must have a coefficient of restitution less than that for a standard baseball. This is to compensate for the limited area, and a much smaller than standard baseball field. The small bat 28 can either be made of wood or plastic.
RULES IN PLAYING THE GAME
Referring now particularly to the layout shown in FIG. 1, the backstop 16 is positioned either against one end wall 36 or at a certain distance from it, with the side 25 facing the opposite wall 33. The pitching device 17 is positioned within an approximate straight line with the strike zone area of the side 25 and at a certain reasonable distance from said backstop 16. One player, the batter, either sitting or kneeling, positions himself at 32, which is either to the left or right of a simulated home base 18. The other player, the pitcher, also in sitting or kneeling position, positions himself at 31, behind the pitching device 17. A simulated first base 30 and a third base 30a are positioned along an approximate straight line designated by string lengths 40, emanating from the home base 18, to the corners of the room respectively, such that said bases 30 and 30a are barely within reach of the pitcher situated at 31 with outstretched arms and leaning in the direction of either bases 30 or 30a. The pitcher pitches the ball in a slingshot manner, and batter attempts to hit said ball with bat 28, swinging said bat with one hand only, either right or left. Balls and strikes, number of outs and number of innings are the same to that of standard baseball. The deviations are the following:
A. outs:
any batted ball which hits the ceiling, is caught on the fly, or is caught on the ground, while still rolling, foul ball on third strike and entering strike zone on fly.
B. single:
any batted ball which hits the pitcher and is not caught, is hit inside first and third base, and does not touch outfield wall, 34 or 35, or a grounder which stops before pitcher can field it.
C. double:
any batted ball which is hit on floor inside first and third base lines, is not touched by pitcher and hits the outfield wall 33.
D. triple:
any batted ball, fly or grounder, which is touched by pitcher but still hits outfield wall 33.
E. home run:
any batted ball inside first and third base, which hits the outfield wall 33 on the fly without being touched.
F. foul:
any batted ball that hits the walls 34 or 35 before the bases 30 and 30a.
G. double play:
a batted ball caught without fumbling, with one or more runners on base, lead runner out in all cases.
H. base stealing:
with one or more runners on base, batter can specify before pitch is delivered if runners are stealing, if pitch enters the strike zone on fly, runner or runners are out.
J.
three singles constitute a run.
K.
a double or a triple and a single constitute a run.
L. home run derby:
only home runs are counted, all other hits are outs, four balls (walk) gives batter another turn at bat.
1. FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention pertains to games and more particularly to a scaled down and simplified baseball game version for indoor and outdoor playing, but dominantly designed for indoors.
2. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Prior art includes the descriptions contained in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.; 1,846,415 to Degenhardt, 2,082,818 to Atwell, 2,944,816 to Dixon and 3,394,691 to Brink.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
There are a number of miniature versions of sports which include hockey, bowling, football, and others. It is fairly common in existing miniature versions of sports that the fingers are all that are required in manipulation to play said miniature versions. Sports are primarily intended for exercise for those physically participating.
It is then one object of the present invention to offer a scaled down version of a simulated baseball game, while retaining some of the benefits of exercise, coordination and reflexes of the body.
It is also an object of my invention to offer an inexpensive scaled down version of a baseball game for indoors, yet having the flexibility for it to be played outdoors.
Still another object of my present invention is to provide a simulated baseball game which requires a minimum of only two players.
Further objects and advantages will become clear as the embodiments are described with the aid of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the layout of the equipment in a playing room and the approximate positions of the players.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the backstop.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the pitching device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, therein illustrated the required equipment, specially designed and also the approximate layout designated by the numeral 15. The indoor mini-baseball 15 includes a backstop 16, which is made of cardboard, plywood or plastic, comprising front side 23, with opening 24, said opening designating strike zone. Side flaps 25 and 25a, hinged to said front at 26, fold outwardly. Said flaps 25 having rectilinear opening 27 disposed adjacent to said flap edge 25b, said opening accepting, but not vertically aligned with hooked projection 27a. Said projection 27a enters said opening 27, by means of holding flap 25 down firmly, lifting flap 25a until projection 27a is aligned with opening 27, inserting projection till edge 25c of flap 25a abuts flap 25; release both flaps and thickness of flap 25, through opening 27, will lodge in space 27b between projection 27a and edge 25c of flap 25a, thereby restraining flap 25, thus forming a triangular shaped, free standing structure or backstop.
The pitching device 17 made of wood, plastic or other suitable material consists of base 19, with two removable upright posts 20. Attached to said posts is a narrow rubber strip 21, having an enlarged width 22 located approximately midway.
It is mentioned in the abstract that the ball 29 recommended must have a coefficient of restitution less than that for a standard baseball. This is to compensate for the limited area, and a much smaller than standard baseball field. The small bat 28 can either be made of wood or plastic.
RULES IN PLAYING THE GAME
Referring now particularly to the layout shown in FIG. 1, the backstop 16 is positioned either against one end wall 36 or at a certain distance from it, with the side 25 facing the opposite wall 33. The pitching device 17 is positioned within an approximate straight line with the strike zone area of the side 25 and at a certain reasonable distance from said backstop 16. One player, the batter, either sitting or kneeling, positions himself at 32, which is either to the left or right of a simulated home base 18. The other player, the pitcher, also in sitting or kneeling position, positions himself at 31, behind the pitching device 17. A simulated first base 30 and a third base 30a are positioned along an approximate straight line designated by string lengths 40, emanating from the home base 18, to the corners of the room respectively, such that said bases 30 and 30a are barely within reach of the pitcher situated at 31 with outstretched arms and leaning in the direction of either bases 30 or 30a. The pitcher pitches the ball in a slingshot manner, and batter attempts to hit said ball with bat 28, swinging said bat with one hand only, either right or left. Balls and strikes, number of outs and number of innings are the same to that of standard baseball. The deviations are the following:
A. outs:
any batted ball which hits the ceiling, is caught on the fly, or is caught on the ground, while still rolling, foul ball on third strike and entering strike zone on fly.
B. single:
any batted ball which hits the pitcher and is not caught, is hit inside first and third base, and does not touch outfield wall, 34 or 35, or a grounder which stops before pitcher can field it.
C. double:
any batted ball which is hit on floor inside first and third base lines, is not touched by pitcher and hits the outfield wall 33.
D. triple:
any batted ball, fly or grounder, which is touched by pitcher but still hits outfield wall 33.
E. home run:
any batted ball inside first and third base, which hits the outfield wall 33 on the fly without being touched.
F. foul:
any batted ball that hits the walls 34 or 35 before the bases 30 and 30a.
G. double play:
a batted ball caught without fumbling, with one or more runners on base, lead runner out in all cases.
H. base stealing:
with one or more runners on base, batter can specify before pitch is delivered if runners are stealing, if pitch enters the strike zone on fly, runner or runners are out.
J.
three singles constitute a run.
K.
a double or a triple and a single constitute a run.
L. home run derby:
only home runs are counted, all other hits are outs, four balls (walk) gives batter another turn at bat.